The Messy Bun Is Back: 5 Ways to Wear It

Share this article

For all of the moms who are on the go and barely have time to brush their teeth for a full three minutes, there is good news! These 2 hair trends require very little drama---um, effort---air-dried hair and the messy bun.

Just think about it: On the days when you’re running late, you can actually combine the two! Just towel dry your hair, put it into some form of a messy bun and you’re good to go.

Although messy buns really aren’t all that complicated, just to prove to you that they do have some variety, we have five different looks that you can try; ones that fit different hair lengths and even hair textures. That way, there’s no excuse to not pull your hair up in a bun sometime this week.

If you have long hair, the high messy bun is perfect for you. All you need to do is pull your hair up into a high ponytail, separate your hair into 2-3 different sections, and tease it a bit for volume and “messiness”. Twist your hair around in opposite directions so that you’re able to create a top knot. And then secure your hair with bobby pins that are about an inch away from the bottom of your hair’s strands so that your tresses have a “frayed effect”.

The half updo messy bun is ideal for naturally curly or wavy hair, especially on the days when you’d rather keep heat out of the equation. Pull half of your hair into a bun. Avoid using a comb, use your fingers instead so that your hair will look “extra messy”. Rather than pull a ponytail together on the top of your head, bring it down to the lower middle. Then follow the instructions we already provided for the high messy bun. You might want to tug on the top of your head a little, just to give this hairstyle some additional height.

If you’re a black woman with natural hair, in many ways, the messy bun can be so much easier for you to create due to your hair’s texture. For instance, you probably won’t have to do a ton of teasing; your thickness and curliness will automatically give you volume. And even if your hair isn’t very long, you can pull your hair to the top or side and either pin your hair down or let your “curly puff” stand all on its own.

Here’s a romantic kind of messy bun. First, either section off two pieces of hair on each side of your head and put each one into either a French or fishtail braid. Pull them back where they meet, pinning the ends of each side into the other with the help of a couple of bobby pins. Then pull the remaining part of your hair towards the nape of your neck and create a messy bun. (Bangs in the front, optional.)

And what if your hair is on the shorter side? No problem! Use some extra bobby pins and maybe even a couple of barrettes to hold the stray hairs in place. Remember, since the operative word is “messy”, your bun doesn’t have to look perfect. Actually, the messier, the better!